Wicked problems are those that have no clear “right” or “wrong” solutions because of contradictory knowledge, the number of opinions involved, a large economic burden, or their interconnections with other problems. Examples of such problems include toxic waste disposal, poverty, and greenhouse gas mitigation. Finding the best solution to these dilemmas is a matter of perspective, and the interconnectedness among scientific and social elements means that any resolution carries advantages and disadvantages. Thus, wicked problems include intractable forces that make “solving” them almost impossible. We will explore the governance of wicked problems in environmental policy and politics. We will focus on systems theory, policy networks, and adaptive management to explore the emergence of wicked problems and the current approaches used by governing bodies to cope with these challenges.